Travel to Sorrento

You might want to purchase some guide books on Italy--or check them out at the library. You don't seem to have your itinerary locked down.
Bear in mind that Italy doesn't have many airports with direct flights to the U.S. Rome has non-stop service to Boston on Alitalia, however.
Your first and last days are wasted time, and every time you move from city to city, you also lose a day traveling and getting to your hotel.
The big tourist draws in Italy are Rome, Florence and Venice--linked by fast trains. Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are popular, however they're quite a distance south of Rome and out of the way.
If I had 10-12 days, I'd go for 4 days in Rome, 4 days in Florence and exploring Tuscany and the balance of the time in Venice. Venice has connecting flights to other European gateway airports that will get you back to Logan Airport non-stop.

Although Venice is lovely, Rome is much closer and there is so much to do. If you have not been before then definitely Rome. But why not fly in and out of Naples? Ten to 12 days is a lot for Sorrento unless you plan on just relaxing. You can do 2 towns in one day on the Amalfi coast. We took a local bus from Sorrento to Positano then spent the evening in Amalfi which is very small and returned to Sorrento. It certainly was a full day but good. I rented a villa in Positano a few years ago as a home base and took day trips around the area. The last year we stayed in Sorrento and there were more options for tourists.

Lorieann

Fly into Venice out of Naples.

10 nights...

Venice 2N.

Rome 3N.

Sorrento 5 N.

For 12 nites, add a night to Venice and Rome.

2 nights= 1 day 3 nights= 2 days.

Naples is worth more than 1day, look at the Campania arte card for attractions in both Naples and the AC.

Remember you loose a day on your trip to Italy and your return day is packing up and heading to the airport.

Have fun planning.

I would fly into Naples spend 2 nights then train to Sorrento for 4 or 5 nights then train to Rome spend remaining time there and fly home from Rome.

Thanks all for your recommendations, it's appreciated. I think flying to Naples then train to Sorrento and then train back to Rome, sounds perfect. I could then spend a couple of days in Naples, Sorrento, and Rome!

If you fly into Naples airport, there's a direct bus to Sorrento, which would be much easier than going from the airport to downtown Naples by bus or taxi, then to Sorrento on the train.

While there may not be many nonstop flights from Boston to Italy, with a plane change you can get to any airport in the country. So, first decide your itinerary, then choose your airports to match. Of course, sometimes there will be more than one good option. For instance, while Florence airport is the closest to Florence, Pisa and Bologna are close enough to work, if you get a better connection or cheaper price to one of them.

Harold, thanks so much. info on the bus from Naples to Sorrento, that sounds perfect!

I am flying into Naples and planning to take the ferry to Sorrento. It sounds like more fun than the bus.
Cynthia

Forgot to add, I am also 60 and going to Italy with a girlfriend, spending 5 nights in Sorrento this September and also leaving from Boston!
Cynthia

Regarding the bus to Sorrento from Naples airport -- note that this means you do NOT have to get into the city of Naples and then to the port to take a ferry to Sorrento. Bus is easy, air-conditioned and has some nice ocean views along the way. If you are going to already be in the city of Naples, then the ferry makes sense versus the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento.

We flew into the Naples airport this past May and took the airport bus to Sorrento for 10 euros each. We found it convenient after the long overnight flight. It was about an hour from Naples to Sorrento.
The bus leaves you at the main bus plaza, from which you can get another local bus, or a taxi to your hotel.

Cynthia, thanks so much and please keep me posted on what you decide to do. Thanks to all of you, it looks like the bus or boat from Naples is the way to go!

Laurel,

We just returned from Italy (yesterday) including Sorrento, Rome and Vernazza, we did Venice, Florence and Como on a previous trip. I agree with the earlier post about flying into one city and out of another (open-jaw) so you are not wasting time going back to your arrival airport, it also gives you some fare flexibility. On 10-12 days, I would fly in to Venice and spend 2 nights there, if you stay in the city, you have it almost to yourself in the evening as all the tours leave about 4:00. Start early and beat the crowds. There are fast trains to Rome and then on to Naples. In my opinion, Naples is a bust except for the Archaeology Museum which is a must see if you're going to do Pompeii (get a good guide, it's worth it). We stayed at the UNA Hotel in Naples mostly because it was convenient and we could check our bags while we visited the museum. For a treat, take the ferry across the bay of Naples to Sorrento which is worth 2 days max unless you're using it as a base to explore the area. Don't over do, it will wear you out. Positono and Amalfi would be 2 full days. Finally, I would head back to Rome and spend at least 3 full days, we did the Borghese one day, the Forum/Coliseum (4 hours for the 2 and it may be hot) and left the afternoons open for whatever we wanted to do, after the Forum/Coliseum when it was almost 100, a nap was in order. We stayed in an apartment 1 block off the Piazza Navonna, it was a great neighborhood and it had a washing machine...big plus when travelling so you don't have to pack for 12 days. The Rome airport is easy to navigate, we came in from Vernazza the afternoon before we left and stayed at the Hilton FCO to make it easier to catch our early flight, you can walk to Terminal 3 in 5-10 minutes. Good A/C and a true king-sized bed was nice too. I hope this helps, enjoy your trip.

Keith

Laurel, we are traveling to Italy next October from Boston. We plan on flying into Venice (3 nights), then taking the train down to Sorrento (4 nights) - includes visiting Pompeii & Herculaneum, then taking the train north to Rome (5 nights). We'll fly back to Boston out of Rome.

I highly recommend you get Rick Steve's Italy book. It will tell you most of what you need to know for your trip to give you a better understanding of what to do. I believe you can buy the book from this website in the "Shop Online" section. I purchased mine from Amazon.

What part of Boston do you live? I'm on the south shore.

What an amazing trip you are doing with your friends.

Hi Pilgram!

We live in Quincy, small world. Yes, good idea to do the Venice for a couple of days, then plan on Sorrento for 4-5 days (plan on doing a one day tour to Naples, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and Capri. Then back up to Rome to fly home. We are looking at staying at Grand Excelsior Vittoria Sorrento in Sorrento have not looked at hotels in Rome or Venice yet. Keep me posted on what hotels and tours you'll be using!

Thanks again!

Hi Keith,

Thank you so much for sending along your ideas, they are very helpful. Can you share what hotels you stayed at in Venice and Sorrento? I'm glad you mentioned not staying in Naples, that's what I have heard from other friends. Plan on taking a one day tour there from Sorrento.

I have ordered Rick's guide book from Amazon and should get soon but it's so nice to get others opinions who have been there!

Thanks again, Laurel

Hi Laurel, I'll send you a Private Message.